Holbein: Portraits from the time of Wyatt

ThIR THOMAS WYATT

This is part of the web site of Shakespeare's sonnetsHolbein Portraits from the time of Wyatt.

HOLBEIN PORTRAITS.

Most of the portraits given below are from drawings in the Royal collection at Windsor Palace. Engravings were made of these in the early part of the 19th. century and published by J. Chamberlaine. Most of the ones shown here are dated 1812, the date of their publication. The engravings in some cases seem to enhance the originals, which are generally much more sketchy, and often rather worn. However for those wishing to see examples of the originals, without travelling to Windsor Palace, some of the drawings may be found on the following Holbein site Holbein . I make no claim that the pictures given below are better than these originals, but they are interesting in their own right, they have a compelling liveliness, and they have the advantage of being relatively easy to obtain and reproduce.

The other items shown are mostly miniatures, and details are appended. The source of the illustration is given wherever possible. The Chamberlaine engravings are scanned from the original prints. The number referred to is that given in the Phaidon catalogue of The Drawings of Hans Holbein in the Collection of His Majesty the King at Windsor Castle and published by Phaidon in 1945.

Portrait Title & Phaidon catalogue number.
Details

For enlargements of the portraits click on the image of the one you wish to see.

40

Lady Borough
Lady Borough (?).

The identity of the sitter is obscure, and the inscription could be wrong.

37

Nicholas

Bourbon Nicholas Bourbon or Borbonius, born at Troyes in 1503, died after 1550. He frequently addressed verses to Holbein. Came to England in 1535 to pay homage to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

67

Lady Butts Margaret, wife of Sir William Butts, was the daughter of John Bacon of Cambridgeshire. She was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Mary daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine.

76

Carew Sir George Carew, soldier and naval commander, born c. 1514. Was in command of the Mary Rose in 1545 when she sank with all hands on leaving Portsmouth harbour to engage the French fleet.

47

Cleeves
A Lady: Unknown.

The inscription on the drawing, Ann of Cleves, is thought to be erroneous, as the portrait does not resemble the one in the Louvre, or an etching by Hollar. It has been suggested that it may be Amelia, Ann's sister, but we have no means of knowing.

53

Cobham
George Brooke, Lord Cobham. c. 1538-40.

George Brooke, ninth Lord Cobham, born c. 1497, knighted 1523 after capture of Morlaix, succeed to the baronetage 1529. Participated in trial of Anne Boleyn 1536; Lieutenant General in Scottish campaigns 1546. Obiit 1558.

59

Dean Colet An ecclesiastic: Unknown. John Colet (1467-1519) died before the date of this drawing (c. 1535), and the sitter’s identity is not known.

See Nos 46, 71, 85.

Edward VI
Edward VI Prince of Wales, son of Henry VIII by Jane Seymour. At the age of six. This portrait was formerly in the Lord Lee collection and is now apparently in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

Source: The Art News, 1928.

15

Eliott
Sir Thomas Elyot. born pre 1490, died 1546.

Diplomatist, humanist, and author of A Boke called the Governour (1531). Clerk of the Privy Council 1523-30; knighted 1530; twice ambassador to Charles V; obiit 1546.

This painting circa 1532 (?).

50

Hobbie
Sir Philip Hoby 1505 -1558.

Diplomatist, Envoy to the Courts of Spain and Portugal 1535-6. Knighted after the siege of Boulogne 1544. Privy Councillor and Master of Ordnance 1552. Holbein and Hoby were on several occasions travelling companions.

Holbein
Hans Holbein in his 45th year, dated 1543, by himself.

Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.

33

Unknown An unknown man. Circa 1535. It resembles a painting of that date in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

45

Unknown Identity of the sitter is not known.

27

Unknown Identity of the sitter is not known.

7

Anne Cresacre Anne Cresacre. Daughter of Edward Cresacre of Barmbrough, Yorks. Born 1512; betrothed to John More in or before 1527 and married to him 1529. Died some time after 1559.

48

Unknown Identity of the sitter is not known.

Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard.

A miniature attributed to Holbein.

Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.

Henry VIII
Henry VIII in his 35th Year.

A miniature now attributed to Lucas Hornebolte.

Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.

8

Margaret Griggs
Margaret Griggs 1508 - 1570.

The inscription on the drawing, Mother Iak refers to the nurse of the infant Prince Edward, Mistress Jack or Jackson. Authorities state that it is incorrect and that this is Margaret Griggs, a kinswoman and adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More. She married Dr. John Clement c. 1530. She was present at More’s execution in 1535.

57

Northampton
William Parr, marquess of Northampton.

William Parr, Brother of Queen Catherine Parr, born 1513, knighted about 1538; created Baron Parr, 1538/9. Marquess of Northampton 1546/7. Lord Great Chamberlain 1549/50. Died 1571.

George Nevill
George Nevill, Baron Abergavenny, K.G.

Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.

73

Lady Parker Probably Lady Grace Parker, first or second wife of Sir Henry Parker, heir presumptive of Lord Morley. She married him in 1523 at the age of 8.

34

Nicholas Poins
Sir Nicholas Poyntz 1510 - 1557.

Son of sir Anthony Poyntz. He married Joan, daughter of Thomas, Lord Berkeley. Said to have been a prominent courtier in Henry VIII’s reign.

55

Lady Rich
Elizabeth, Lady Rich.

Daughter of William Jenks, or Gynkes, A London grocer, married Richard, first Baron Rich. Little more is recorded of her than that she died in 1558, having borne her scoundrel husband five sons and ten daughters.

16

Lady Richmond
Mary, Duchess of Richmond and Somerset.

Mary Howard, daughter of Thomas, third Duke of Norfolk, and sister of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Born 1519, married Henry Fitzroy, natural son of Henry VIII by Elizabeth Blount, in or after 1533. Died 1557.

69

Lord Russell John Russell, Earl of Bedford. He lost his eye by an arrow wound received at the assault of Morlaix c. 1522. Born c.1485; Gentleman of the Privy Chamber 1507,; knighted 1522, created Baron Russell 1538/9; Lord High Admiral 1540-2; Privy seal 1542-55; Earl of Bedford 1549/50; Lord Privy seal 1553; died 1554/5.

Jane Seymour
Queen Jane Seymour.

A miniature attributed to Holbein.

Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.

75

Sharington Sir William Sharington. Born c. 1495; Page of the King’s Robes; Vice Treasurer of the mint at Bristol, 1546; Knight of the Bath; perpetrated extensive frauds and joined the plots of Thomas Seymour; arrested 1548/9, but received pardon; Sheriff of Wiltshire 1552; died 1553.

72

Mary Zouch Possibly Mary Zouch, a maid of honour to Queen Jane Seymour.

56

Lady Suffolk
Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk. 1518-1580.

The identity of the sitter is questioned. Daughter of Baron William Willoughby de Eresby. Married the Duke of Suffolk as his fourth wife in 1534.

18

Lady Surrey
Frances, Countess of Surrey, c. 1535.

Frances (de Veer, daughter of John, fifteenth Earl of Oxford, born 1517; married Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, 1532; widowed 1546/7; died 1577.

17

Earl of Surrey Sir Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, born 1516/18. Knight of the Garter 1541. Commander of Boulogne 1545-6. Executed 1546/7. His poetry was much admired and his name is often coupled with Wyatt’s. Nowadays it is considered to be somewhat inferior to the latter’s. His work was printed in Tottel’s Miscellany 1557.

Margaret Wotton
Margaret Wotton, Marchioness of Dorset.

A miniature attributed to Holbein.

Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.

64

Thomas Wyatt Sir Thomas Wyatt. Poet and diplomatist, born c. 1503. Clerk of the King’s Jewels 1524; Marshal of Calais 1529; Privy Councillor 1533; imprisoned 1536; knighted 1537; Ambassador to charles V of Spain 1537-9; mission to Flanders and Paris 1539/40. Imprisoned 1540-41; Knight of the shire for Kent 1542; died 1542.

Christina of Denmark
Christina, Duchess of Milan. Hans Holbein the Younger. National Gallery, London.

Source: The National Gallery. 100 Plates in Colour. London 1909.

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Sonnets 1 - 50

Sonnets 51 - 100

Sonnets 101 - 154

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Thomas Wyatt

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	40 Lady Borough	Lady Borough (?). The identity of the sitter is obscure, and the inscription could be wrong.
	37 Nicholas Bourbon	Nicholas Bourbon or Borbonius, born at Troyes in 1503, died after 1550. He frequently addressed verses to Holbein. Came to England in 1535 to pay homage to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
	67 Lady Butts	Margaret, wife of Sir William Butts, was the daughter of John Bacon of Cambridgeshire. She was a lady-in-waiting to Princess Mary daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine.
	76 Carew	Sir George Carew, soldier and naval commander, born c. 1514. Was in command of the Mary Rose in 1545 when she sank with all hands on leaving Portsmouth harbour to engage the French fleet.
	47 Cleeves	A Lady: Unknown. The inscription on the drawing, Ann of Cleves, is thought to be erroneous, as the portrait does not resemble the one in the Louvre, or an etching by Hollar. It has been suggested that it may be Amelia, Ann's sister, but we have no means of knowing.
	53 Cobham	George Brooke, Lord Cobham. c. 1538-40. George Brooke, ninth Lord Cobham, born c. 1497, knighted 1523 after capture of Morlaix, succeed to the baronetage 1529. Participated in trial of Anne Boleyn 1536; Lieutenant General in Scottish campaigns 1546. Obiit 1558.
	59 Dean Colet	An ecclesiastic: Unknown. John Colet (1467-1519) died before the date of this drawing (c. 1535), and the sitter’s identity is not known.
	See Nos 46, 71, 85. Edward VI	Edward VI Prince of Wales, son of Henry VIII by Jane Seymour. At the age of six. This portrait was formerly in the Lord Lee collection and is now apparently in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. Source: The Art News, 1928.
	15 Eliott	Sir Thomas Elyot. born pre 1490, died 1546. Diplomatist, humanist, and author of A Boke called the Governour (1531). Clerk of the Privy Council 1523-30; knighted 1530; twice ambassador to Charles V; obiit 1546. This painting circa 1532 (?).

	50 Hobbie	Sir Philip Hoby 1505 -1558. Diplomatist, Envoy to the Courts of Spain and Portugal 1535-6. Knighted after the siege of Boulogne 1544. Privy Councillor and Master of Ordnance 1552. Holbein and Hoby were on several occasions travelling companions.
	Holbein	Hans Holbein in his 45th year, dated 1543, by himself. Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.
	33 Unknown	An unknown man. Circa 1535. It resembles a painting of that date in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.
	45 Unknown	Identity of the sitter is not known.
	27 Unknown	Identity of the sitter is not known.
	7 Anne Cresacre	Anne Cresacre. Daughter of Edward Cresacre of Barmbrough, Yorks. Born 1512; betrothed to John More in or before 1527 and married to him 1529. Died some time after 1559.
	48 Unknown	Identity of the sitter is not known.
	Catherine Howard	Catherine Howard. A miniature attributed to Holbein. Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.
	Henry VIII	Henry VIII in his 35th Year. A miniature now attributed to Lucas Hornebolte. Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.
	8 Margaret Griggs	Margaret Griggs 1508 - 1570. The inscription on the drawing, Mother Iak refers to the nurse of the infant Prince Edward, Mistress Jack or Jackson. Authorities state that it is incorrect and that this is Margaret Griggs, a kinswoman and adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More. She married Dr. John Clement c. 1530. She was present at More’s execution in 1535.
	57 Northampton	William Parr, marquess of Northampton. William Parr, Brother of Queen Catherine Parr, born 1513, knighted about 1538; created Baron Parr, 1538/9. Marquess of Northampton 1546/7. Lord Great Chamberlain 1549/50. Died 1571.
	George Nevill	George Nevill, Baron Abergavenny, K.G. Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.
	73 Lady Parker	Probably Lady Grace Parker, first or second wife of Sir Henry Parker, heir presumptive of Lord Morley. She married him in 1523 at the age of 8.
	34 Nicholas Poins	Sir Nicholas Poyntz 1510 - 1557. Son of sir Anthony Poyntz. He married Joan, daughter of Thomas, Lord Berkeley. Said to have been a prominent courtier in Henry VIII’s reign.
	55 Lady Rich	Elizabeth, Lady Rich. Daughter of William Jenks, or Gynkes, A London grocer, married Richard, first Baron Rich. Little more is recorded of her than that she died in 1558, having borne her scoundrel husband five sons and ten daughters.
	16 Lady Richmond	Mary, Duchess of Richmond and Somerset. Mary Howard, daughter of Thomas, third Duke of Norfolk, and sister of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Born 1519, married Henry Fitzroy, natural son of Henry VIII by Elizabeth Blount, in or after 1533. Died 1557.
	69 Lord Russell	John Russell, Earl of Bedford. He lost his eye by an arrow wound received at the assault of Morlaix c. 1522. Born c.1485; Gentleman of the Privy Chamber 1507,; knighted 1522, created Baron Russell 1538/9; Lord High Admiral 1540-2; Privy seal 1542-55; Earl of Bedford 1549/50; Lord Privy seal 1553; died 1554/5.
	Jane Seymour	Queen Jane Seymour. A miniature attributed to Holbein. Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.
	75 Sharington	Sir William Sharington. Born c. 1495; Page of the King’s Robes; Vice Treasurer of the mint at Bristol, 1546; Knight of the Bath; perpetrated extensive frauds and joined the plots of Thomas Seymour; arrested 1548/9, but received pardon; Sheriff of Wiltshire 1552; died 1553.
	72 Mary Zouch	Possibly Mary Zouch, a maid of honour to Queen Jane Seymour.
	56 Lady Suffolk	Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk. 1518-1580. The identity of the sitter is questioned. Daughter of Baron William Willoughby de Eresby. Married the Duke of Suffolk as his fourth wife in 1534.
	18 Lady Surrey	Frances, Countess of Surrey, c. 1535. Frances (de Veer, daughter of John, fifteenth Earl of Oxford, born 1517; married Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, 1532; widowed 1546/7; died 1577.
	17 Earl of Surrey	Sir Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, born 1516/18. Knight of the Garter 1541. Commander of Boulogne 1545-6. Executed 1546/7. His poetry was much admired and his name is often coupled with Wyatt’s. Nowadays it is considered to be somewhat inferior to the latter’s. His work was printed in Tottel’s Miscellany 1557.
	Margaret Wotton	Margaret Wotton, Marchioness of Dorset. A miniature attributed to Holbein. Source: Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch. 1917.
	64 Thomas Wyatt	Sir Thomas Wyatt. Poet and diplomatist, born c. 1503. Clerk of the King’s Jewels 1524; Marshal of Calais 1529; Privy Councillor 1533; imprisoned 1536; knighted 1537; Ambassador to charles V of Spain 1537-9; mission to Flanders and Paris 1539/40. Imprisoned 1540-41; Knight of the shire for Kent 1542; died 1542.
	Christina of Denmark	Christina, Duchess of Milan. Hans Holbein the Younger. National Gallery, London. Source: The National Gallery. 100 Plates in Colour. London 1909.